Meghan Enriquez, founder of True Conversations LLC, has an amazing story. She was adopted and came to America from South Korea at 4 months of age. Her adoptive parents in Massachusetts are white and what she experienced as "identity" growing up, resonated so much. I believe all of you will find something in her story that is not only true for many of us, but is very human.

Last, her fear for her children growing up at this time in history under this administration I believe you will NOT want to miss. We are all connected. Thank you Meghan for sharing a "true conversation!" - Atiba President and Founder of Party Politics US

LISTEN BY STREAMING HERE OR TAKE OUR ENTIRE FREE PODCAST CHANNEL WITH YOU ON THE GO.

What are the stories and real life experiences that compelled Atiba Madyun to begin Party Politics years ago, before politics was so prominently on every citizen's mind?

Why did he see a need to put party politics aside, to welcome both sides of the table to the conversation, and to promote active citizenship?

Whether you are wondering, where do I fit into this polarized landscape, is there a place for me to talk about my perspective, or how does a descendent from both slaves and slave owners arrive at the conclusion that love, listening, and understanding is what will ultimately move our country forward?

LISTEN BY STREAMING HERE OR TAKE OUR ENTIRE FREE PODCAST CHANNEL WITH YOU ON THE GO.

Atiba Madyun is president and founder of Party Politics US. For the past year, Party Politics has collected data from varying American demographics about what they want the next President to work on.

Atiba is also a public affairs consultant with twenty years of experience building coalitions and strategic partnerships for corporations and nonprofits. He has specialized knowledge and expertise in legislative strategy, communication, partnerships, outreach and education. For the past seven years he has been a consultant for Pfizer and has consulted for the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, CommonHealth Action, National Conference of State Legislators, National Black Caucus of State Legislators and the National Native American Caucus of State Legislators.

Prior to leaving the National Black Caucus of State Legislators in 2009 where he served as Deputy Executive Director for seven years, he directed the organization’s public policy and communications staff/consultants and was the organization’s liaison to The White House, Congressional Black Caucus, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), The National Governors Association (NGA) Council of State Government and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In these roles, he fostered relationships with government personnel, elected officials and corporate executives.

Today, he provides lobbying, training, branding, marketing, communication and social media outreach, multicultural outreach and strategic partnership services. As a television and radio political analyst, he gives expert political analysis on politics. Atiba has also been published in the Huffington Post and The Guardian.

Charles Belk of Fitting the Description joins us for our monthly partner podcast for Party Politics US Chalkboard Conversations and True Conversations. Hear the story of an ordinary citizen who ends up surviving a false arrest, his story goes viral and learns quickly the ramifications of what an arrest, even false, causes. Turned active citizen, Charles shares his story with us and the wisdom from the past two years of changing legislation.

LISTEN BY STREAMING HERE OR TAKE OUR ENTIRE FREE PODCAST CHANNEL WITH YOU ON THE GO.

After completing both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Michigan, Adi was elected in February 2015 to a two year term as a statewide Vice Chair of the Michigan Republican Party at the age of 24. For his work in this role, he was recognized in both 2016 and 2017 on Newsmax’s annual list of 30 Most Influential Republicans Under 30. Over the last six years, Adi has managed or advised on numerous successful political campaigns at the local, state, and federal level. As a student, he was elected to serve as the Executive Director of the Association of Big Ten Students, an organization that consists of the 14 Big Ten schools from 11 different states and represents over 540,000 students. For his work in this role, he was invited to the 2013 White House Youth Summit and recognized by Red Alert Politics on their 2014 ’30 Under 30′ list. Most recently Adi was a 2016 Fellow in the Michigan Political Leadership Program through Michigan State University’s Institute of Public Policy and Social Research. He is currently an APAICS Legislative Fellow in the Office of Senator Orrin G. Hatch who serves as both the President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate as well as the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. In his free time, Adi enjoys cheering on Michigan sports teams, working out, and watching Netflix documentaries.

Janay Marriel Smith is a mechanical engineer, product designer, lawyer and comedian whose purpose is bound by improving the lives of others. Ms. Smith’s life is defined by seamlessly weaving professional training, personal experiences and gut instinct. She executes this trifecta via story-telling, activism, consumer product design, and public policy campaigns.

Ms. Smith’s exposure to law was immediate and intense as a child reared by civil rights activists in Montgomery, Alabama. Such a pro-active environment led her to the politically aware and socially conscious Howard University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Her intrigue with international policy and multiculturalism blossomed while living in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Smith’s career began as an engineer for Ford Motor Company. By 25, she was a manager for the international award winning KA’s Squeak and Rattle manufacturing team in Valencia, Spain. Her experience on such an influential multi-national team birthed her passions for international exploring and cultural understanding.

She fervently supports the democratic process and equity under the law (her contributions to the 2008 United States presidential campaign gained national recognition). Her commitment to human rights, health care and environmental issues expanded after legal experiences in Italy and Africa. Ms. Smith’s international efforts tapped her as an Ambassador for Namibia’s Hardap Region. Smith serves as co-founder and co-president of Visceral Media Group (VMG). VMG is dedicated to creating film, television and music content that entertains, educates and inspires. VMG is co-owned by accomplished, veteran producer Mr. James DuBose. This duo is bound by a commitment to tell compelling biographical and motivational stories.

Ms. Smith currently owns and manages The Jock Michael Smith Collection (TJMSC), the world's largest privately held multi-sport collection of game worn, authenticated memorabilia. She uses the collection to stimulate, and motivate, conversations across cultural, racial and gender lines. She has created a partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to exhibit over 40 key artifacts in Washington, D.C. The sports gallery of NMAAHC would not exist without TJMSC. She was President of SCORE! Las Vegas, the nation’s first multi-sport interactive exhibit with game worn memorabilia.

J. Smiles is the stage name Ms. Smith uses as a standup comedian. Referred to as the conscious comic, she tackles controversial topics in a manner that allows the entire audience to leave with a new perspective. She performs standup regularly. J. Smiles was a co-host on The Ladies Lounge radio show. Her creative design endeavors are contained within The J Factor, an independent invention firm. Ms. Smith has deep, lasting connections with organizations such as The Rosa and Raymond Parks Foundation, the Democratic National Committee, Lawyers Without Borders and the American Heart Association. She is member of the American Bar Association, the Alabama Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Industrial Designers Society of America and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Listen to two campaign strategists discuss how he did it, the issues in Michigan, did voters vote against their interests and how will Republicans hold Michigan or how will Democrats reclaim the state?

Listen in to Illinois Democratic Assistant Majority Leader, State Senator Donne Trotter, Janaye Ingram, Director of Logistics for the Women's March, Alexandra Gail Van Hook, student Texas State University, Michael Hart, former President, Texas State Organization of Student Social Workers (OSSW) discuss the climate of college campuses, how the movement of the Women's March began and what is happening now, as well as the state of Illinois, where their budget has been frozen and what we can do about preventing it in the future. This is a True Conversations truecast in partnership with Party Politics US Chalkboard Conversations.

LISTEN BY STREAMING HERE OR TAKE OUR ENTIRE FREE PODCAST CHANNEL WITH YOU ON THE GO.

BE ENGAGED AND STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL NEW PODCASTS, LIVE RECORDINGS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED.

Atiba Madyun President at Party Politics and CEO of TMG- the Madyun Group

Meghan Enriquez CEO of True Conversations

Our Guests:

Dr. Aleksandra Nesic

Dr. Aleksandra Nesic is a Research & Teaching Professor of Cultural-Conflict Psychology at the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USASOC/SOCOM), Senior Faculty of Human Security Studies at the School for International Training, Graduate Institute of World Learning in Washington DC and a Visiting Faculty at the Joint Special Operations University (USSOCOM) in Tampa, Florida.

Previously, Dr. Nesic was a Professor and a Program Director at the Florida State University’s Global Citizenship educational initiative where she developed and coordinated programs in intercultural and interfaith education, conflict resolution, global citizenship and peacebuilding as well as designed and taught courses in Cross-Cultural Communication, International Relations and Conflict Resolution. She is a co-founder, a partner and senior researcher of Valka-Mir Human Security, LLC, a human security development and research firm specializing in psycho-social and cultural analysis and integration of communities in conflict.

Dr. Nesic has over 10 years of cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution training and teaching. She provides customized training services for university faculty, staff, and students from over 100 different countries, corporate, military and non-governmental organizations in the US and abroad. Dr. Nesic consults the United Nations Systems Staff College, and is an active board member of several international non-governmental organizations working in peace and conflict areas. She is an experienced public speaker fluent in English, Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian, a published author, and has chaired and presented her research at a number of international, national and regional conferences focused on international conflicts, human security and peacebuilding.

Aleksandra holds a PhD in International Conflict Analysis and Resolution, a Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication and International Education, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

KENNETH ROMERO: NHCSL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kenneth Romero is the Executive Director of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), an affiliate of the Council of State Governments.

Kenneth graduated from Boston University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. After completing his Juris Doctor at the University of Puerto Rico, he moved to Washington, DC to pursue a Master’s in International Business and Trade Law at American University. At the same time, he began his career in public service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, working on trade policy.

He later was appointed Director of Tourism for the City of San Juan. He also worked as Director of Issues and Public Affairs for the Office of the Governor of Puerto Rico and later served as Legislative and Federal Affairs Counsel to four Secretaries of Transportation of Puerto Rico.

Before joining NHCSL, Kenneth served as Executive Aide and Advisor to the Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. He was appointed Chairman of the Host Committee for the 53rd Annual Meeting and Policy Forum of CSG’s Eastern Regional Conference.

As Executive Director of NHCSL, Kenneth currently serves as co-chair of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda’s Government Accountability Committee.

Michael Collins - Chief of Staff for Congressman John Lewis

BE ENGAGED and stay up to date on all new podcasts, live recordings and other opportunities to get involved.

We are thrilled to be partnering with up with Chalkboard Conversations to facilitate and produce a regularly scheduled Live Virtual Podcast Recordings around the most relevant and often stigmatized topics about which people around the country are wanting to take action.

True Conversations' mission is to help all of us achieve a more peaceful and fulfilling life through hearing and having transparent, real, uplifting and empowering conversations around the most stigmatized issues of today.

Our NEXT Live Virtual Podcast Recording will be

Wednesday March 1, 2017 7pm EST

Topic: TBD

Sign up below to RSVP. Only the first 45 hosts will have access to the video chat portion of the recording and be able to join in, speak face to face with the speakers and share their thoughts during the last 15 minutes.

All others will be able to listen to the podcast recording the weekend after by subscribing to our FREE itunes and soundcloud podcast channel or listening here on the website.

Follow us on facebook for ongoing TRUE (transparent, real, uplifting and empowering) posts, stories and news.

About being a host: You may gather together in one space and count as 1 host. 1 computer = 1 host. So call your friends and colleagues over and be one of the 45 hosts. Contact us about having one of our podcast recordings "zoom" into your classroom to engage with us directly.

You will receive an email prior to the event with the link and instructions for joining this live conversation.

Name *

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address *

Thank you!

Subscribe to our FREE itunes and soundcloud podcast channel or listening here on the website.